FIRST AID & HEALTH HINTS

A drop of iodine or mercurochrome on a splinter will make it show up better.

A good cold remedy, use 3oz of both vinegar and honey to keep colds at bay.

Achy muscles from a bout of the flu? Mix 1 Tablespoon of Horseradish in a cup of Olive Oil. Let the mixture sit for 30 minutes, then apply it as massage oil, for instant relief for aching muscles.

Add a jigger of vodka to a 12-ounce bottle of shampoo. The alcohol cleanses the scalp, removes toxins from hair, and stimulates the growth of healthy hair.

Apply a freshly-cut slice of raw onion to the sting to help draw out the poison. Hold the onion in place with tape.

Apply a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Let dry, then wash off. This also works on poison oak, poison sumac, or other skin irritations.

Arthritis: WD-40. Spray and rub in, kill insect stings too. Also spray it on wasps nests -- they'll be unable to move.

Athlete's feet -- use cornstarch.

Balm for broken blisters ...To disinfect a broken blister, dab on a few drops of Listerine ... a powerful antiseptic.

Bananas: Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fibre, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Bee stings - use meat tenderiser.

Bee Stings: Relieve by applying a poultice of baking soda and water.

Before you head to the drugstore for a high-priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of curiously strong peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Before you head to the Pharmacy for a high priced inhaler filled with mysterious chemicals, try chewing on a couple of strong Peppermints. They'll clear up your stuffed nose.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Boils & Pimples: To diffuse a boil or pimple, add two tablespoons of lemon to a cup of freshly-boiled water. Soak, clean, and disinfect the area with a cotton ball.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power.

Budweiser beer rinse conditions the hair.

Burn your tongue? Put sugar on it!

Burns: to soothe burns, dab pure vanilla extract onto a cooking burn to keep it from blistering.

Car Sickness: Sucking on a wedge of lemon will make you feel better. But be sure to rinse your mouth afterwards as lemon corrodes teeth enamel.

Chaffed Skin: Gently pat a raw slice of potato over irritated nose, forehead, cheeks and chin. Rinse with cool water to close pores.

Clean dentures by soaking them overnight in vinegar, then brush away tartar with a toothbrush.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer. If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409 . Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Cleaning liquid that doubles as bug killer... If menacing bees, wasps, hornets, or yellow jackets get in your home and you can't find the insecticide, try a spray of Formula 409. Insects drop to the ground instantly.

Coca-Cola cure for rust ... Forget those expensive rust removers. Just saturate an abrasive sponge with Coca Cola and scrub the rust stain. The phosphoric acid in the coke is what gets the job done.

Constipation: High in fibre, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Contact Lenses: If they are lost, darken the room as much as possible. Shine a flashlight over the floor. The lens will glow.

Corns: To relieve corns, just before going to bed slice off one end of a lemon so that the "hole" that remains is the size of a penny. Insert the toe with the corn into the lemon. Put a sock on your foot to keep the lemon in place and repeat nightly until the corn disappears.

Cough: For relief of a common cough, mix honey and lemon together. Roast a lemon until it breaks open, mix a teaspoon of warm lemon juice with half a teaspoon of honey, and take every half hour until cough goes away.

Cure for headaches, take a lime, cut in half and rub it on forehead. Throbbing should go away.

Cure upset stomach by drinking 2 teaspoons of Apple Cider Vinegar in 1cup of water.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the x body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anaemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anaemia.

Did you know that Colgate toothpaste makes an excellent salve for burns?

Did You Know That drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."

Drinking two glasses of Gatorade can relieve headache pain almost immediately -- without the unpleasant side effects caused by traditional "pain relievers."

Easy eyeglass protection ... To prevent the screws in eyeglasses from loosening, apply a small drop of Crystal Clear nail polish to the threads of the screws before tightening them.

Eliminate ear mites ... All it takes is a few drops of corn oil in your cat's ear. Massage it in, and then clean with a cotton ball. Repeat daily for 3 days. The oil soothes the cat's skin, smothers the mites, and accelerates healing.

Eliminate puffiness under your eyes: All you need is a dab of Preparation H, carefully rubbed into the skin, avoiding the eyes. The haemorrhoids ointment acts as a vasoconstrictor, relieving the swelling instantly.

Fatigue: Start running warm water into the tub, then add 1-1/2 cups ordinary table salt to the bath. Have the water warm, but not hot.

Fill a clean, used mayonnaise jar with freshly packed lavender flowers, fill the jar with vodka, seal the lid tightly and set in the sun for three days. Strain liquid through a coffee filter, then apply the tincture to aches and pains.

Fix broken finger nail. Cut a piece of gauze paper from Lipton Flo-Thru Tea Bag to fir nail, coat with cleat nail polish and press gently against break then coat with coloured nail polish when dry.

Flies or bees bothering you: Spray them with hairspray and they will take a quick dive.

Fly Bites: Rub regular underarm deodorant across the bite and the bite will stop itching right away.

For a super scented rubdown, spray two clean, dry bath towels with your favourite cologne. Toss the towels in the dryer for 3 minutes on a high setting so that they are heated through. Rub them vigorously over your body for sensational skin. Damp skin will more readily absorb the fragrance.

For relief of a common cough, mix honey and lemon together. Roast a lemon until it breaks open, mix a teaspoon of warm lemon juice with half a teaspoon of honey, and take every half hour until cough goes away.

For relief, mix a tablespoon of honey and the juice of one lemon into a cup of warm water, and sip.

Fungus on toenails or fingernails -- use Vapour-Rub.

Gently pat a raw slice of potato over irritated nose, forehead, cheeks and chin. Rinse with cool water to close pores.

Hair - use brewed tea.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Heavy dandruff -- pour on the vinegar!

Haemorrhoids: To relieve haemorrhoid symptoms, dampen a cotton ball with lemon juice, then apply to affected area.

Hiccups: Suck a wedge of lemon doused with Worcestershire sauce.

Highlight brown hair. Rinse red or brown hair with brewed Lipton tea for golden highlights.

Honey remedy for skin blemishes ... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a Band-Aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin sterile, and speeds healing. Works overnight.

Honey remedy for skin blemishes... Cover the blemish with a dab of honey and place a band-aid over it. Honey kills the bacteria, keeps the skin, sterile, and speeds healing.

Hornet Stings: Wring out a towel in hot water and sprinkle a generous portion of meat tenderiser on the towel. Apply directly to the sting, re-treating the towel every five minutes for about half an hour. The hot towel causes the pores of your skin to open, and the tenderiser neutralizes the venom. If you do this quickly enough after the hornet's bite, there is no pain or swelling.

If a blister opens, pour vodka over the raw skin as a local anaesthetic that also disinfects the exposed dermis.

If they are lost, darken the room as much as possible. Shine a flashlight over the floor. The lens will glow.

Insect Bites: To relieve the itch, cut an aloe leaf and rub its juice on your skin. Treat with a poultice of either cornstarch or baking soda, mixed with vinegar, fresh lemon Listerine therapy for toenail fungus... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again.

Kills fleas instantly. Dawn dish washing liquid does the trick. Add a few drops to your dog's bath and shampoo the animal thoroughly. Rinse well to avoid skin irritations. Good bye fleas.

Let poultice sit for one-half hour, then apply to the corn and tape in place overnight. If corn does not peel off by morning, reapply the poultice for several consecutive nights.

Listerine therapy for toenail fungus ... Get rid of unsightly toenail fungus by soaking your toes in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy again. Wow, fresh breath and toenails, too.

Make your own mouthwash by mixing nine tablespoons powered cinnamon with one cup vodka. Seal in an airtight container for two weeks. Strain through a coffee filter. Mix with warm water and rinse your mouth. Don't swallow.

Mayonnaise will kill Lice; it will also condition your hair.

Migraine Headaches: Nibble on four or five feverfew leaves to relieve headache.

Minor burn - toothpaste juice or witch hazel.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness. Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Mosquito Bites: Instead of spending a fortune on After-Bite, Dab toothpaste over your mosquito bites. Make sure the bite is covered completely and leave it covered for half an hour before washing the toothpaste off in water. Repeat daily until the bite is gone.

MOSQUITO REMEDY Pass this on to anyone who likes sitting out in the evening or when they're having a cookout. So you don't like those pesky mosquitoes, especially now that they have the potential to carry the West-Nile Virus? Here's a tip that was given at a recent gardening forum: Put some water in a WHITE dinner plate and add a couple of drops of "Lemon Fresh Joy Dish Detergent". Set the dish on your porch, patio, or other outdoor area. I'm not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white plate colour, or what, but mosquitoes flock to it, and drop dead shortly after drinking the Lemon Fresh Joy/water mixture, and usually within 10 feet of the plate.

Mosquito Bites: Rub regular underarm deodorant across the bite and the bite will stop itching right away.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Next time you need a quick ice pack, grab a bag of frozen vegetables out of your freezer -- no watery leaks from a plastic baggie!

Nibble on four or five feverfew leaves to relieve headache.

Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Paper cut - Chap Stick. Glue is used instead of sutures at most hospitals lately.

Poison Ivy: Apply a paste of 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Let dry, and then wash off. This also works on poison oak, poison sumac, or other skin irritations.

Pour one-half cup vodka and one-half cup water in a Ziplock freezer bag, and freeze for a slushy, refreshable ice pack for aches, pain, or black eyes.

Pour vodka over an area affected with poison ivy to remove the Urushiol oil from your skin.

Prevent yeast infections. Douche with one tablespoon vinegar to one quart warm water, to adjust the pH balance in the vagina.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief ....It's not for break fast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

Quaker Oats for fast pain relief.... It's not for breakfast anymore! Mix 2 cups of Quaker Oats and 1 cup of water in a bowl and warm in the microwave for 1 minute, cool slightly, and apply the mixture to your hands for soothing relief from arthritis pain.

Quick treatments for pimples, use a dab of toothpaste on it at night.

Rainy day cure for dog odour ... Next time your dog comes in from the rain, simply wipe down the animal with Bounce or any dryer sheet, instantly making your dog smell springtime fresh.

Relieve by applying a poultice of baking soda and water.

Relieve cough by mixing one-half cup Apple Cider Vinegar, one-half cup water, one teaspoon cayenne pepper, and four teaspoons honey.

Relieve sunburn pain. Pat your sunburn with wet Lipton Flo-Thru Tea Bags.

Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Rub bites with wet bar soap to help relieve itching.

Rub regular underarm deodorant across the bite, and the bite will stop itching right away.

Rubdown: For a super scented rubdown, spray two clean, dry bath towels with your favourite cologne. Toss the towels in the dryer for 3 minutes on a high setting so that they are heated through. Rub them vigorously over your body for sensational skin. Damp skin will more readily absorb the fragrance.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer, tryptophan.

Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea.

Sinuses: While you're in the shower, inhale the steam as deeply as you can. It will help loosen any nasal stuffiness. This also helps if you have a deep bronchial cough.

Smart splinter remover ...just pour a drop of glue the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Smart splinter remover... just pour a drop of Elmer's Glue all over the splinter, let dry, and peel the dried glue off the skin. The splinter sticks to the dried glue.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around. So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!

Soothe a sore throat or laryngitis. Drink brewed tea with Lemon or honey.

Soothe a sore throat. Put a teaspoon of vinegar in a glass of water. Gargle, and then swallow.

Soothe tired eyes. tea bags soaked in cool water or lukewarm water over your eyes for at least fifteen minutes.

Sore nipples -- (Nursing Mothers) use Chap Stick or a wet tea bag, or wool wax.

Vinegar to heal bruises ... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Cure urinary tract infections with Alka-Seltzer. Just dissolve two tablets in a glass of water and drink it at the onset of the symptoms. Alka-Seltzer begins eliminating urinary tract infections almost instantly -- even though the product was never advertised for this use. ( Note : Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine is not the same and contains aspirin, which can cause stomach bleeding if o u have ulcers.)

Sore Throats: For relief, mix a tablespoon of honey and the juice of one lemon into a cup of warm water, and sip.

Spike your hair with Close-up toothpaste (it will also tint it).

Splinters: A drop of iodine or mercurochrome on a splinter will make it show up better.

Start running warm water into the tub, then add 1-1/2 cups ordinary table salt to the bath. Have the water warm, but not hot.

Stop gums from bleeding after having tooth pulled. Press a cool, moist tea bag against he cavity with your finger.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalise the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, "eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Suck a wedge of lemon doused with Worcestershire sauce.

Sucking on a wedge of lemon will make you feel better. But be sure to rinse your mouth afterwards as lemon corrodes teeth enamel.

Sunburn - empty a large jar of Nestea into your bath water.

Sunburn: To cool sunburn, dissolve 1/2 cup or more baking soda in a tub of lukewarm.

Swish a shot of vodka over an aching tooth. Allow your gums to absorb some of the alcohol to numb the pain. Take one tablespoon when cough acts up. Take another tablespoon at bedtime.

Tea Bags : Deodorize your feet. Boil three or four tea Bags in one quart of water for ten minutes. Add enough cold water to make a comfortable soak. Soak your feet for twenty to thirty minutes, then dry and apply food powder. Do this twice a day until odour is under control. Then continue twice a week to keep odour under control. Tannin, which can be found in tea, is a drying agent. Soothe a burn. Apply wet Lipton Flo-Thru Tea Bags directly to the burn, or secure in place with gauze.

Tea Bags: Help relieve diarrhoea. Drink plenty of tea and eat toast. The tannin in tea is reported to be helpful in cases of diarrhoea, while its liquid replaces fluids lost by the body.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

The acids from the tomatoes soothe the pain and brings the boil to a head.

Throat sore, just mix ¼ cup vinegar and ¼ honey, mix and take a sip 6 times a day. Vinegar kills the bacteria.

To cool sunburn, dissolve 1/2 cup or more baking soda in a tub of lukewarm.

To cure foot odour, wash your feet with vodka.

To diffuse a boil or pimple, add two tablespoons of lemon to a cup of freshly-boiled water. Soak, clean, and disinfect the area with a cotton ball.

To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area, instant relief.

To relieve corns, just before going to bed slice off one end of a lemon so that the "hole" that remains is the size of a penny. Insert the toe with the corn into the lemon. Put a sock on your foot to keep the lemon in place and repeat nightly until the corn disappears.

To relieve haemorrhoids symptoms, dampen a cotton ball with lemon juice, then apply to affected area.

To relieve the itch, cut an aloe leaf and rub its juice on your skin.

To relieve the sting of minor sunburn, cut an aloe leaf and rub its juice on your skin.

To remove a bandage painlessly, saturate the bandage with vodka. The solvent dissolves the adhesive.

To soothe burns, dab pure vanilla extract onto a cooking burn to keep it from blistering.

To treat an earache put a few drops of vodka in your ear. Let set for a few minutes. Then drain. The vodka will kill the bacteria that are causing pain in your ear.

To relieve a fever, use a washcloth to rub vodka on your chest and back as a liniment.

To treat dandruff, mix one cup vodka with two teaspoons crushed rosemary, let sit for two days, strain through a coffee filter and massage into your scalp and let dry.

Tomato Paste boil cure: Cover the boil with Hunt's tomato paste as a compress.

Treat with a poultice of either cornstarch or baking soda, mixed with vinegar, fresh lemon juice or witch hazel.

Try a golden glow to your face, use a cucumber and honey.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Use bi-carbonate soda for upset tummies.

Use bi-carbonate soda to whiten your teeth.

Using a cotton ball, apply vodka to your face as an astringent to cleanse the skin and tighten pores.

Using a q-tip, apply vodka to a cold sore to help it dry out.

Vinegar to heal bruises... Soak a cotton ball in white vinegar and apply it to the bruise for 1 hour. The vinegar reduces the blueness and speeds up the healing process.

Vinegar: Add ¼ cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer

Vinegar: Cleans work surface, mirrors & glass.

Vinegar: Clears embarrassing dandruff.

Vinegar: Cure for colds. Mix one-quarter cup Apple Cider Vinegar with one-quarter cup honey.

Vinegar: Cure hiccups fast.

Vinegar: Dampen your appetite. Sprinkle a little vinegar on prepared food to take the edge off your appetite.

Vinegar: Disinfectant to almost anything.

Vinegar: Ease nausea and upset stomachs.

Vinegar: Ease pain of insect bites.

Vinegar: Feel good recipe. A teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, with a bit of honey added for flavour, will take the edge off your appetite and give you an overall healthy feeling.

Vinegar: Guards against food poisoning.

Vinegar: Helps fade age spots.

Vinegar: lifts painful corns and calluses.

Vinegar: Prevents infections.

Vinegar: Relieve arthritis. Before each meal, drink a glass of water containing two teaspoons Apple Cider Vinegar. Give it at least three weeks to start working.

Vinegar: Relieve dry and itchy skin. Add 2 tablespoons to bath water.

Vinegar: Relieve itching by using a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites with Vinegar straight from the bottle.

Vinegar: Relieve sunburn by lightly rubbing it with vinegar. You may have to reapply.

Vinegar: Relieves headaches.

Vinegar: Relieves sore throats.

Vinegar: Smoothes painful sunburn.

Vinegar: Soothe a bee or jellyfish sting. Dot or douse the irritated area with vinegar and relieve itching.

Vinegar: Soothe tire aching feet.

Vinegar: Take one tablespoon six to eight times daily.

Vinegar: Treat sinus infections and chest colds.

Vinegar: Whiten whites, brighten colours.

Vinegar: You take 1 tablespoon full and swallow when you have the hiccups. It stops them instantly.

Vodka will disinfect and alleviate a jellyfish sting.

Vodka: Spray vodka on vomit stains, scrub with a brush, and then blot dry.

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

When making your favourite Chilli recipe, add a little cocoa powder to the mixture. This will cut the acid and help prevent heartburn.

When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, and then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

While you're in the shower, inhale the steam as deeply as you can. It will help loosen any nasal stuffiness. This also helps if you have a deep bronchial cough.

Wring out a towel in hot water and sprinkle a generous portion of meat tenderiser on the towel. Apply directly to the sting, re-treating the towel every five minutes for about half an hour. The hot towel causes the pores of your skin to open, and the tenderiser neutralizes the venom. If you do this quickly enough after the hornet's bite, there is no pain or swelling.